I got a list of five different pumps that my insurance covers: Ameda Finesse, Spectra S2 Plus, Medela Pump In Style Advanced Starter Kit, Nature's Bond Pure Model and Hygeia Enjoye. Having trouble deciding on one. I can order it June 18th. The only one that has reviews is the Medela and it has poor ones. If anyone has experience with these, I'd love to have the advice. I know I just got notified today but reading over the information makes me feel like I'm being thrown in the deep.
@smsaulino I think we had a product spotlight thread on pumps in April if you want to go back and read through it or even resurrect. I used the Spectra 2 with no complaints I assume the 2+ is just a newer model
La Leche League will get you in touch with a local meeting for in person support as well as lactation consultants.
Kelly Mom has a ton of info on breastfeeding and pumping and what is normal during the different stages of breastfeeding newborn-toddler. I used this site a ton when DS was born to assure myself that he was getting enough based on wet/dirty diapers and understanding just how tiny their stomachs are at first.
@nlc8424 Kellymom is lyfe in those first couple weeks! Such a great resource. And I definitely consulted it again while pregnant/nursing and subsequently weaning DS.
I used both of those sites. They are full of wonderful knowledge and very, very helpful.
However, they both lean toward a philosophy of if it isn’t working, get more help and try harder because true issues with breastfeeding/supply are rare. They tend to discount the existence of true issues and that lactation consultants/ power pumping/ bfing vacations/ supplements won’t fix everything. Neither site is great for the mental health of an exhausted new mom who has done/is doing everything prescribed and still “failing”. BF is one of the few things in life where trying harder simply isn’t a guarantee for success. They are websites and groups with a specific focused view.
As long as you don't read all of the comments on posts, Breastfeeding Mama Talk on Facebook is a good place for those who are doing well or not, they support fed is best basically.
@nlc8424 I had never heard of anyone not being able to breastfeed or having supply issues who was trying/ committed. Not wanting to or not enjoying it/ too uncomfortable, yes. I think it is one of those things that would be less of an unpleasant shock for moms at their most hormonal, exhausted, and vulnerable if it was more openly discussed, which is why I tend to bring it up. I plan to bf, pump, etc and use those sites again this go round. They are wonderful resources.
@spottedginger agreed. I had issues last time and practically killed myself trying to “just try harder”. There was no amount of trying that was ever going to make my boobs create enough milk so that I wouldn’t need to supplement with some formula. None of the classes or reading I did prepared me for that possibility. I don’t think it’s nearly as rare as they like to claim based on the number of friends I have that have had similar issues. Both those sites are great resources, but it’d be nice if they would admit that sometimes failure is a possibility.
I got a list of five different pumps that my insurance covers: Ameda Finesse, Spectra S2 Plus, Medela Pump In Style Advanced Starter Kit, Nature's Bond Pure Model and Hygeia Enjoye. Having trouble deciding on one. I can order it June 18th. The only one that has reviews is the Medela and it has poor ones. If anyone has experience with these, I'd love to have the advice. I know I just got notified today but reading over the information makes me feel like I'm being thrown in the deep.
I used my Medela to pump at work for a year and had no complaints. I also had a Spectra S2 at home and had no complaints either. I'm probably going to order another Medela through insurance for this pregnancy just because that's the one I have all the spare parts for and it was great having all the extra pieces for my main pump.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________ MMC 8/5/15 at 8 weeks DS born 9/13/16 BFP 1/13/18 - EDD 9/20/18 - It's a boy!
@smsaulino my insurance pump is nothing special so I registered for a Medela Pump In Style Advanced and had no problems with it. I pumped for a year (at work, nursed at home). I plan on using it again. I’ve also heard good things about the Spectra. My mom is a lactation consultant and asks patients and nurses which they prefer and those are the 2 that always come up.
+1 to liking the PISA. It’s the only option I have through insurance and have no comparison, but it worked out fine for me. I did have oversupply until I got pregnant with this LO, so my production was clearly not affected by the pump. The main advantage is that parts are relatively cheap and easily available at stores like Target and Walmart. With some other pumps, you are stuck ordering online.
Im not sure if I ever mentioned this before, but be sure to ask for any and all spare/extra parts you can while in the PP unit. I got free upsized flanges and a manual pump because they stock them as floor stock on our unit. They also have sanitizing bags on hand. The really nice thing is that since I work in the hospital, all of these things are available in an emergency if I forget something, which I did do once!
Thanks y'all... I was able to find the old Product Spotlight thread and it helped. I was able to order it, but it won't get shipped out until June 18th because I'm not far enough along yet. It's just once less thing I have to worry about later on.
Re: Breastfeeding/pumping Q&A
La Leche League: https://www.llli.org
Kelly Mom: https://kellymom.com
La Leche League will get you in touch with a local meeting for in person support as well as lactation consultants.
Kelly Mom has a ton of info on breastfeeding and pumping and what is normal during the different stages of breastfeeding newborn-toddler. I used this site a ton when DS was born to assure myself that he was getting enough based on wet/dirty diapers and understanding just how tiny their stomachs are at first.
However, they both lean toward a philosophy of if it isn’t working, get more help and try harder because true issues with breastfeeding/supply are rare. They tend to discount the existence of true issues and that lactation consultants/ power pumping/ bfing vacations/ supplements won’t fix everything. Neither site is great for the mental health of an exhausted new mom who has done/is doing everything prescribed and still “failing”. BF is one of the few things in life where trying harder simply isn’t a guarantee for success. They are websites and groups with a specific focused view.
Both those sites are great resources, but it’d be nice if they would admit that sometimes failure is a possibility.
MMC 8/5/15 at 8 weeks
DS born 9/13/16
BFP 1/13/18 - EDD 9/20/18 - It's a boy!
Im not sure if I ever mentioned this before, but be sure to ask for any and all spare/extra parts you can while in the PP unit. I got free upsized flanges and a manual pump because they stock them as floor stock on our unit. They also have sanitizing bags on hand. The really nice thing is that since I work in the hospital, all of these things are available in an emergency if I forget something, which I did do once!